Combine making washi and mizuhiki with a mini-hike and a boat ride on the Tenryu Gorge!

Really Rural Japan highly recommend combining this half day experience with a half day at the Tenryu Gorge! The full day is packed with things to do and includes a small hike, a traditional boat ride, and making washi and mizuhiki!

What is washi?

Washi (和紙) is traditional Japanese paper. It is made using only three ingredients, bark from the kozo tree, a root called tororo-aoi, and water. The small village of Shimo-Hisakata, now a part of Iida City, has a long history of making washi. Shimo-Hisakata washi was so successful in the Edo period (1603-1868) that it become the countries premier producer of motoyui. Motoyui was a white chord made out of twisted washi. It was used for tying hair throughout the Edo period. Now that might not sound like much, but think about how the samurai, geisha, sumo wrestlers, etc. all had extremely carefully styled hair. Now imagine they all used motoyui. It was a big industry!

What is mizuhiki?

Mizuhiki are colourful chords which can be tied into objects and shapes and auspicious knots to represent gifts and celebrations. They colours of the piece can tell you so much. Red and white for celebration, yellow for achievements and black and white for funerals. As motoyui hair ties all but died out as Japan exited the Edo period and began to westernize, the city of Iida turned their motoyui industry into a mizuhiki industry. Nowadays Iida makes about 70% of the country’s mizuhiki.

What will you do during this experience?

• Meet and greet the master craftsman: During this experience you will start by meeting the master craftsman keeping washi and mizuhiki alive to this day. You can expect to meet at least two or three craftsmen during this experience.

• Washi making experience: After learning about the craft, it is time to get hands on. Your washi making instructor will show you how to craft a beautiful sheet of washi paper.

• Mizuhiki making experience: As your washi dries, you will move onto the mizuhiki. Now a new instructor will show you how to tie auspicious knots out of colourful mizuhiki chords.

• Combining the two: After your washi has dried, it is time to combine the two. Using origami techniques, your sheet of washi and mizuhiki can be combined to make an extremely special letter to be saved for a special occasion.

• Shopping and farewells: Finally you can peruse their shop freely and say your farewells.

How do you get there?

Shimo-Hisakata is quite remote. Transportation there will be either done by train and then a pleasant 20 minute walk, or by taxi or private vehicle.

Combinations:

This tour can be combined with a hike and/or boat ride along the Tenryu Gorge to make a full day of it.